New bill requires landlords to tell tenants of hazards
A loophole in Ch. 21E of the Massachusetts General Laws allows landlords not to notify renters about past hazardous waste or oil contaminations. In the case of Marilyn McMillan, a small business owner in the town of Ayer, her landlord did not tell her about contamination from the toxic chemical perchloroethylene (PCE) caused by the previous tenant’s dry cleaning operation. For nearly two years the McMillans, their young son, and their employees suffered from headaches, dizziness, and vomiting. Then in 2004, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection evacuated them from the building, citing the building as an imminent hazard. This left the McMillans without a source of income.
The McMillans are moving to change the laws in the commonwealth to require landlords to notify commercial or residential tenants, as well as potential lessees, about any history of hazardous chemical releases on the property. The bill, filed by Harvard’s state legislators, Senator Pamela Resor and Representative James Eldridge, is titled An Act Regarding Notification of Oil and Hazardous Waste Material Release, and helps improve accountability and gives people the right to know whether their home or business has a history of toxic contamination.
Supporters of this legislation include MassPIRG, Toxics Action Center, Massachusetts Environmental Collaborative, Clean Water Action, and the Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters, among others.
State Legislators Propose Harassment Prevention Bills
To obtain a criminally enforceable protective order, victims need to prove that they have a substantive relationship with the abuser. This means that a teacher being stalked by a student or a neighbor being stalked by another neighbor is not protected by the law. State Senator Pam Resor is the chief sponsor of the Harassment Prevention Bill that would amend this discrepancy in the law.
“Restraining orders are sometimes the only legal protection a person can obtain when faced with the dangers of stalking or domestic violence,” according to Resor. “For this reason, it is very important to make it easier for women to obtain protective orders.”
Senator Cynthia Creem of Newton recently filed legislation that allows domestic violence and stalking victims to take time off from work without penalty to get medical attention and to assist law enforcement with their case. Another of Senator Creem’s bills protects a domestic violence or stalking victim’s ability to secure housing.
Victims in imminent danger should contact their local law enforcement agency. In addition, they should seek support from a crisis hotline, a victim’s service agency, a domestic violence or rape crisis program such as Jane Doe, Inc., Feel Safe Again, Inc., or the Victims Rights Law Center. Each of these agencies and its advocates can help victims devise a safety plan, learn about local laws, find services, and take additional steps, such as seeking a protective order.
Senator Resor urges college students to apply for financial aid
Last year, Massachusetts students received more than $1 billion in grants and low-interest loans from federal and state governments, as well as millions of dollars in scholarships from colleges and universities, according to state Senator Pam Resor. Many students and their families are unaware that such resources exist, and may require help navigating the often cumbersome process of seeking out and applying for financial aid. Fortunately, free help is available to help guide applicants through this process.
Because the financial aid season is relatively short, just four months, it is very important that students apply early and fill out the free application for federal student aid.
The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education Office of Student Financial Assistance, with the nonprofit organization TERI (The Education Resources Institute) sponsors a toll-free hotline to assist with aid applications and questions. Students and their families are encouraged to call 1-877-ED-AID-4U (1-877-332-4348) for assistance. One-on-one guidance is also available through TERI and Educational Opportunity centers at many locations throughout the commonwealth.
